Beside Himself

1-20-2009
Beside Himself

We use the term. “I’m beside myself right now,” we are basically saying we aren’t whole. We are lost. The apostle Paul had the same experience in Romans 7:14-20:

“14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”

We read of Paul’s struggle and fight for sanctification (to be Christ like). He knows what he should do, but the sin living in him prevails at times. The fight to live as Christ lived and calls us to live is a lifelong journey. Consider it a marathon sprint if you will.

To surrender your life to Christ involves a simple moment in time in which you begin the transformation process. You profess your sins, ask for forgiveness, and understand it’s by grace you have been saved and nothing you deserve or did to achieve salvation. It’s a decision.

Once that moment in time takes place, the process of removing sin from your life takes time and commitment. You will struggle against sin, and by yourself you will lose the battle. With Christ, you can overcome the odds. Do not allow evil to get a stronghold in your life. Understand your weaknesses, and stay as far away from temptation as possible, or you too will end up beside yourself!

Application:
1. Read Romans 7
2. Do you call on Christ during good and bad? Do you do so regularly or only when it’s too late?